ok...about 7 years ago, I broke my left foot. I fell off of a step~ yes one step. I do not remember what bone I broke, But the most of my foot was purple and there was an egg shaped knot on the top left of my foot. Anyways I went to the E.R. they said it was broken...followed up with the doctor , who put me in the boot(I told him I would cut the cast off...if he put one on) The injury seemed to heal fine...I really don't remember how long I used the boot. It wasn't long...due to being a single mom with three small children, plus I lived in a house with stairs.
Fastforward 4 years...While dragging a vaccum cleaner (with no wheels) at work , I get it caught in the door. Yep you guessed it off the step I go( I swear,just one). This time...I could not even stand on my foot, I had to crawl back into the office to get help. At the hospital, they informed me that I sprained it. Told me the usual, keep it elevated , ice pack, ect ect... I did stay off of it the next day...cause I could not bear weight at all. But I dug out the boot...and went back to work the next day. I wore the boot for maybe a month... I could not follow up with the bone Doctor~ because I am on medicade. Which none of the specialists in my area accept.
After about four months of limping around, I went back to the E.R., this time they said my foot WAS broken. The P.A. said that it had started to heel...it appeared to be healing right. But that I should have it checked by ....yep the Doctors that won't see me. I called every bone Doctor in my area. No one would see me. Something about medicade not paying the bills!
Now here we are. I am 29 years old. I am pretty active. Not skinny but not obese either. My left foot, not only hurts most of the time it is also deformed looking. On the out side, it has an odd bump right before the arch, thenright below the arch there is a gap...were there was bone. It looks like my heel is separating from the rest of my foot. If I stay moving, it doesn't hurt to bad. But once I sit down...it aches. When I try to walk on it after resting, I have a limp. If pressure is put on that side...I will limp for days!
It seems to be getting worse. I have had back problems since this started. And recently my left knee is bothering me also. I am worried that I have done damage that can't be fixed.I am sorry that this is so long...any advice you can give me would be great!~~tastemiskittles2

Gee whiz, skittles. That sounds not too pleasant.

The quick answer is, you need an X-Ray. You need to know if the bones that were once broken healed in the right place or not. A "non-union" is bones that dont re-join after having been broken. the bump you describe could be that or an area of swelling from arthritis.

Did you say that three is a bump on the outside of your foot....by the arch? do you mean the little arch on the outside of your foot? Or are you using the inside arch as a descriptive landmark to where it hurts on the outside of your foot? It's a little confusing.

Anyhow, as far as your insurance. That stinks that no one accepts in for regular offoice visits. However, you can always go to the ER.

I'm also sorry that this isn't the info that you were hoping for. However, you need to be seen by a doctor sooner than later.


Best,

Spencer B. Weisbond, C.Ped.

Have you tried other Nonprofit hospitals in your area some have funding that you can apply for that can help cover costs.

Thankyou both for responding to my post. I am going to go see my primary care doc...and see if he will give me a referral. I heard about a Doctor in Clermont that takes my insurance. It is a little ways but not to far.
As far as the bump on my foot...it is before the little arch on the outside of my foot. So there is the odd bump then the little arch. Then the gap were there used to be bone, then my heel. It is very noticable...compared to my other foot...it looks really messed up. If the bones didn't heal right, what can be done? What if they did not go back together? I guess I am have put it off cause I am afraid the doc will tell me that they have to rebreak it. Do they really do that? Are you awake when they do it? I know now I sound like a big baby. I am very concerned that whatever the Doctor says has to be done...it will require me to be off my feet for a while. Which means I can't work. I know you would be guessing but...any clue how long the healing process could take? Thankyou ~~Skittles

If your foot is changing shape that is noticable diferent from the other foot it should be checked! A broken bone can take 4-8 weeks to heal but it can be come nonunion or necrocitc and never heal.

After you get your foot check please tell us what was found.

Get well soon

I will~~thankyou,Skittles

Dear Skittles
I would definately recommend that you follow-up with either a Podiatrist or an orthopedic physician in your community as soon as possible. The internet can provide you with a wealth of information. Check it out to find local Medicad clinics in you area and as a last resort you could go to the ER, if all else fails.

Good-luck and thank-you for contacting foot.com,
SBarlizo, DPM, CPed
foot.com expert